Smiley: Bargain dinner

Pierre Hjartberg, of New Orleans, says, “Several years ago, when Archie Manning was Jim Henderson’s color guy in the Saints radio broadcasts, I went to most of the out-of-town games — because as a travel executive I handled fans’ transportation on charter flights.

“Since I had known both of them for years, I would often sit in the broadcast room for a while, wearing a headset through which I heard Jim and Archie.

“One time in either Denver or Green Bay, during a prolonged time out and when the commercials were over, Jim told the audience that he and Archie had a tradition to go out to dinner at the out-of-town destinations on Saturday nights. And that they took turns picking up the tab.

“‘We all know that the further out of town you go, the less expensive the restaurants are,’ said Jim. ‘Last night it was Archie’s turn to pay. I am not going to say anything about him being frugal and conservative with his funds but...

“‘...before we even got there last night, the cab driver had to stop twice to rotate the tires.’”

Honoring a Marine

Emily Wax Patterson, of Baker, wanted to do something special for her brother, Ted Wax, who was a 19-year-old Marine when he fought at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea in 1950 in 40-below weather and suffered frostbitten feet. (A military historian described it as “the most violent small unit fighting in the history of American warfare.”)

Emily says her brother is in ill health, and “I wanted to do something to recognize him, so I called Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Collins with the Marines in Baton Rouge and inquired if they gave any type of recognition to the men who served in the war.

“I told him how much it would mean to my brother to get a note, etc.

“This young man took it upon himself to do better than that — he dressed in his blues and dressed a ceramic bulldog mascot in a ‘leatherneck’ hat, with a place to hang ‘dog tags’ on its collar.

“He took the time to deliver this personally to my brother. I have to say my brother cried. As sick as he was, he managed to salute him.

“Thanks to this young man, and also thanks to all service men and women who serve our country.”